Purchasable item actions associated with digital media methods and systems

ABSTRACT

Purchasable item actions associated with digital media are disclosed. Digital media associated with a digital media provider is presented at a user device. Trigger data associated with the digital media is presented. In response to a command to activate the trigger data, an actionable indication is displayed of at least one purchasable item associated with the digital media. In response to a selection of the actionable indication of the at least one purchasable item associated with the digital media, an action is performed associated with the at least one purchasable item. The action can include adding the at least one purchasable item to a shopping cart or a wish list.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/259,063 entitled “Interactive Multimedia Package Methods andSystems” filed on Apr. 22, 2014 which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/887,172, entitled “Methods And Systems OfDelivering A Multimedia Package,” filed on Oct. 4, 2013 and which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to digital media, moreparticularly, some embodiments relate to interactive multimedia packagemethods and systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Digital distribution is the delivery of media content (e.g., audio,video, software, or video games) without the use of physical media.Digital distribution has become ubiquitous and bypassed conventionalphysical distribution methods (e.g., paper, CDs, or DVDs) due to theadvances in computer networking and communication technologies.Nevertheless, interaction with digitally distributed media is oftenlimited. For example, users cannot select objects of interest to themdirectly from the digital media. Or, a user must navigate away from thedigital media to look up an object in the digital media.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION

Interactive multimedia package methods and systems are provided. Variousembodiments generate, manage, deliver, and/or play interactivemultimedia packages with various digital media. An interactivemultimedia package may be incorporated into any platform such asphysical media (e.g., CDs, DVDs, etc.), web services (e.g., download, orstreaming), and other applications. A user may shop directly off of thedigital media that he or she is experiencing (e.g., watching a movie,viewing a digital news, reading an e-book, playing a video game, etc.)The user may be directed to an e-commerce website, a digital storefront,or a list of items associated with an object, by clicking on the objectof interest in the digital media. A user may choose to add an item tohis or her shopping cart or wish list or purchase an item immediately.

A user's interaction with the interactive multimedia package may berecorded, tracked, and/or analyzed. Digital media may be recommended orpresented to the user based on the user's interactions such as abrowsing and/or purchase history. Items may be arranged and presented tothe user in an order determined based on the user's interactions.Systems and methods described herein may act as a centralized customerinterface that can interact with various item providers (e.g.,E-commerce storefronts) to ensure that the customer finds all items andservices that are related to their digital media experiences.

Other features and aspects of the application will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the featuresin accordance with embodiments of the application. The summary is notintended to limit the scope of the application, which is defined solelyby the claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present application, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingfigures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict typical or example embodiments of the application. Thesedrawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of theapplication and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope,or applicability of the application. It should be noted that for clarityand ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made toscale.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment where various embodimentsmay be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of creating aninteractive multimedia package, such as for the interactive multimediapackage system illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of executingan interactive multimedia package, such as for the interactivemultimedia package system illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentapplication.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8B illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8C illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example computing module that may be used inimplementing various features of embodiments of the application.

The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theapplication to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood thatthe application can be practiced with modification and alteration, andthat the application be limited only by the claims and the equivalentsthereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE APPLICATION

Before describing the application in detail, it is useful to describe anexample environment in which the application can be implemented. Onesuch example is illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary environment 100 where variousembodiments may be implemented. The environment 100 comprises varioususer devices 108-111, which may be collectively referred to as a usersystem 112 connected via a communication medium 105. An interactivemultimedia package may be associated with a digital media to facilitatea user identifying and purchasing items that are related to an object ofinterest in the digital media. A digital media may comprise variousdigital assets such as a video content, an audio content, or a subtitle.Various embodiment may create, deliver, manage, and/or play aninteractive multimedia package. In some embodiments, the communicationmedium may be a wired system, such as a coaxial cable system, a fiberoptic cable system, an Ethernet cable system, or other similarcommunication medium. Alternatively, the communication medium may be awireless network system, such as a wireless personal area network, awireless local area network, a cellular network, or other similarcommunication medium.

As shown, a user system 112 may include a smartphone 108 (e.g.,iPhone®), a TV 109, a computer 110 (e.g., a personal computer), and/or atablet 111 (e.g., iPad®), which through their respective networkconnections 107, can either interact directly or indirectly with thevarious digital media providers 1-n 102-104, via their respectivenetwork connections 106. For example, a network connection 106 or 107may include wired connections (e.g., Digital Subscriber Line (DSL),optical) and/or wireless connections (e.g., Wi-Fi.) In variousembodiments, a network connection 106 or 107 may include an ad hocnetwork, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), alocal area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network(WAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN), a cellular telephone network, or anycombination thereof. A network connection 106 or 107 needs notnecessarily be the same throughout the environment 100. Various userdevices 108-111 described herein may be implemented using the examplecomputer system illustrated in FIG. 9 .

In one embodiment, an interactive multimedia platform may be hosted byan interactive multimedia system 101 which is coupled to thecommunication medium 105. An interactive multimedia package may becreated, delivered, managed, and/or played by using the interactivemultimedia platform. An interactive multimedia package may be providedto various digital media providers 102-104. The interactive multimediasystem 101 may provide consolidated site direction. The interactivemultimedia system 101 may provide a central service point, which allowsdigital media providers 102-104 to manage how a user should be directed.For example, digital media providers 102-104 may update the links toitems that are associated with an object in the digital media.

The interactive multimedia system 101 may manage the interactive digitalmedia being played among various devices 108-111 of the user system 112.For example, the interactive multimedia system 101 may createinteractive multimedia packages compatible with digital media fromvarious media content providers, and/or provide a user with access toitem providers hosting items associated with one or more objects indigital media. The interactive multimedia system 101 may allow a digitalmedia being displayed simultaneously among multiple devices 108-111 ofthe users system 112, a user may interact with the digital media on onedevice while the digital media is continuously being displayed on therest of the devices. In addition, the interactive digital media system101 may allow a user to enable or disable such feature while playing thedigital media. The interactive digital media system 101 may recordand/or track items viewed or purchased by a user. The interactivedigital media system 101 may analyze a user's preferences based on therecord, and provide digital media or items to the user based on theuser's preferences.

In various embodiments, the user system 112 can display any interfacerelated to playing and interacting with a digital media. For example,the user system 112. may be configured to retrieve a digital media, toreceive a digital media request from a user, to identify an object thatare associated with items for purchase, to present a user interface (UI)to a user, to receive a user's request to view items associated with anobject, and/or to display purchase options to the user. In oneembodiment, a user may download a client component of an interactivemultimedia system 101 such as an interactive multimedia application. Theclient component may be executed locally at a user system 112. In someembodiments, the interactive multimedia system 101 may provide back-endsupport for the client component. The interactive multimedia system 101may be responsible for providing a multimedia package that is compatiblewith various digital media from different providers 102-104, deliveringa multimedia package compatible with various digital media fromdifferent providers 102-104, directing a user's selection of an item forpurchase to a web address, tracking and analyzing a user's preferences,providing additional digital media based on the user's preferences,and/or providing items for purchase in an order determined based on theuser's purchase history.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of creating aninteractive multimedia package, such as for the interactive multimediapackage system illustrated in FIG. 1 . At step 202, an object in adigital media is identified. In various embodiments, metadata in thedigital media associated with the object is identified. For example, thename, the description, the time stamp, the hotspot region or location ofthe object, and/or the duration of the object appearance may beidentified. At step 204, a set of items related to the object isidentified. Each item corresponds to an item provider from which a usermay purchase the item. In some embodiments, the web address (e.g., auniform resource locator (“URL”)) may be identified for each item. Ashort URL may be registered with the item and links to the web pagehosting the item that has a long URL. The web address may be a long URLwhere the item may be located.

At step 2016, an interactive multimedia package is generated. Thepackage provides information associating an object in the digital mediawith the items identified at step 204. In some embodiments, theinteractive multimedia package may comprise metadata of the object suchas the name, the description, the time stamp, the hotspot region orlocation of the object, and/or the duration of the object appearance. Insome embodiments, the interactive multimedia package may comprise a linkto the item provider (e.g., a digital storefront, an E-commerce site)where the item may be purchased, a link to the web address where theitem may be purchased, or a link that directs a user's selection of anitem to an intermediate server that directs the user to the itemprovider. A user may activate the link by clicking on an item. In someembodiments, the interactive multimedia package may comprise aMulti-language Framework (“MLF”) asset related to the digital media. Forexample, if the digital media is a video, the MLF asset may includefeatures, trailers, artwork, audio, or subtitles. The MLF asset may bedifferent for different digital media providers such as a video serviceprovider (e.g., Netflix®, Vudu®, Apple iTunes®, Amazon®, etc.) Theinteractive multimedia package may provide information regarding thedigital media provider that the digital media is available.

In some embodiments, the interactive multimedia package may comprise alink to various digital assets or features of a digital media. Forexample, an interactive multimedia package may include a link to thevideo content (e.g., a movie file), to the audio content (e.g., theaudio file), or to the subtitle. In some embodiments, the interactivemultimedia package may comprise one or more digital assets that areincluded in the digital media. For example, a video content or an audiocontent including various features (e.g., bonus features, alternativeendings, etc.), localized audio, metadata, subtitles, and/or narrativesmay be included in the package. In some embodiments, the interactivemultimedia package may comprise feature metadata of the digital mediasuch as information about the digital media (e.g., synopsis, cast,production year, genre type), information about the digital asset (e.g.,the resolution, the sound quality, the language), or promotion materials(e.g., posters, trailers, etc.) In some embodiments, the interactivemultimedia package may comprise encryption for some digital media. Theencryption may be used to track a user who opens and activates thepackage when playing the digital media.

The interactive multimedia package may comprise trigger data configuredto direct a user to the web address hosting the item in response to auser's command. In some embodiments, trigger data may be configured tobe presented to the user in response to a triggering event (e.g., timepoint, frame count, etc.) For example, upon detecting a frame or a timepoint, trigger data configured to direct a user to a web address may bedisplayed to the user with the digital media. Trigger data may befurther configured to direct a user to a UI in response to a user'strigger action. A user may activate trigger data by motions (e.g.,click, tap, double click, swipe, blink, etc.) or voice (e.g., speakingto a microphone) controls. A list of items related to an object, adigital store front, an e-commerce site, a detailed description of anitem, a 3-D view, may be displayed to the user in the UI.

In some embodiments, the interactive multimedia package may be amanifest file (e.g., an extensible markup language (“XML”) file). Thepackage may register a set of short URLs with an object. Each short URLis associated with a long URL that directs to a webpage hosting theitem. A user may be directed to the web address where an item associatedwith the object is located by clicking on the object in the digitalmedia. When the web address from which an item associated with theobject changes, the long URL may be updated without changing the shortURL.

In various embodiments, the interactive multimedia package may bewrapped in an executable and automated delivery system. In variousembodiments, an interactive multimedia package, created at step 206, maybe provided to various digital media providers (e.g., Netflix®, Vudu®,Apple iTunes®, Amazon®, etc.) An interactive multimedia package may becompatible with multiple digital media providers. In some embodiments,an interactive multimedia package may be compatible with only onedigital media providers. Each provider, upon receiving an interactivemultimedia package, may be required to activate the interactivemultimedia package.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of executingan interactive multimedia package, such as for the interactivemultimedia package system illustrated in FIG. 1 . At step 302, aninteractive multimedia package is received along with a digital media.The interactive multimedia package provides information regardingvarious items for purchase that are related to one or more objects inthe digital media. At step 304, the interactive multimedia package isprocessed to generate trigger data. Trigger data may be automaticallyexecuted in response to certain events (e.g., time, frame count) and beconfigured to direct a user to a web address hosting the item. Forexample, upon detecting a frame is being displayed at a time point,trigger data may be displayed with the digital media. In variousembodiments, trigger data may be generated, associated with the object,and displayed to the user. Via the trigger data, a user may be directedto a web address hosting the item or a digital store where the item isavailable.

At step 306, the trigger data generated at step 304 is displayed alongwith the digital media. Trigger data configured to direct a user to anitem for purchase may be displayed to the user. Trigger data may bepresented on the device which plays the digital media, or on anotherdevice different from the device that plays the digital media. Triggerdata may be configured to direct a user to a user interface forpurchasing various items related to an object in response to a user'strigger action. For example, a user may click on an object, tap on anobject, or speak to a device, to activate trigger data. At step 308, auser's trigger action is detected. The trigger action may activate alink included in an interactive multimedia package. Upon detecting atrigger action, a user interface (“UI”) may be provided to the user. TheUI may present various information such as one or more items forpurchase that are related to an object, a shopping cart, a wish list, adigital store front, an e-commence website, etc. The user may beprovided with a user interface (“UI”), via which the user may interactwith digital media as well as various e-commerce sites where itemsassociated with the object may be purchased. The UI may be displayed inthe same screen where the digital media is being displayed, or in adifferent screen separate from the screen where the digital media isbeing displayed.

The UI may be configured to direct a user to a web address hosting theitem, to direct a user to a digital store front, to view an item, tosave an item to a user's cart, or to edit the user's cart, etc. At adigital storefront, a user may browse a list of items associated withthe object of interest to the user. The listing of the items associatedwith the object allows a user to interact with the items, such as,adding an item of interest to a purchase list, adding an item to a wishlist, or checking the detailed description of an item, etc. When a useradds an item to his or her shopping cart, he or she may choose the nextstep such as proceeding onto the full e-commerce site, proceeding tocheck out, or interacting with the UI to be directed to another UI suchas to be directed to another item for purchase.

FIGS. 4-9B illustrate an exemplary interactive multimedia system thatintegrates a Fairytale store with the Princess movie. One of ordinaryskill in the art would appreciate that any item provider may beintegrated with a digital media similar to the embodiments illustratedin FIGS. 4-9B. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplaryinteractive multimedia system in accordance with an embodiment. Upondelivery and execution by a user device, various embodiments may allow auser to choose to enable or disable this feature. As such, a user mayopt in or out from the ability to connect to the Fairytale storeprovided by this interactive multimedia package. As illustrated, theinteractive multimedia package is enabled. UI 401 shows that aninteractive multimedia package may be enabled or disabled. When enabled,a user may be directed to one or more stores from which a user maypurchase one or more items. In the illustrated example, the interactivemultimedia package is enabled, as indicated in the UI 402. In someembodiments, an interactive multimedia package may be set to be enabledonly in a time duration specified by a user. In addition, a user maylearn more about how this feature functions using this page by clickingon the “learn more” icon 403 or return to the set up page by clicking onthe “return to set up” icon 404.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment. In variousembodiments, an interactive multimedia package may provide informationregarding one or more items related to an object of a digital media.Trigger data may be generated by processing the interactive multimediapackage. Upon detecting a triggering event (e.g., a time point, a framecount, etc.), trigger data may be displayed to the user. In response toa user's trigger action, a UI such as the UI 500 may be displayed to auser. The UI 500 displays a Princess doll in response to a user'strigger action. Via the UI 500, the user may select the Princess dollusing the UI 501, view more purchasing options using the button 502, orbrowse more items using the buttons 503 a-b. In various embodiments, theUI may be configured such that a user may interact with the UI withoutinterrupting playing the digital media. A UI may be displayed in asecondary screen separate from the primary screen where the digitalmedia is being played. In other embodiments, the UI may be displayed inthe primary screen.

In various embodiments, a UI may be configured based on the objectcorresponding to the user's trigger action. The object may be used todetermine the configuration of the UI. For example, one or more itemsmay be determined from the interactive multimedia packaging. Theinteractive multimedia package may host a database of items. In responseto a user's trigger action, a set of items related to the object may bedetermined and displayed to the user. Various items may be determinedaccording to a user's selection and/or preferences. For example, theuser's region, the user's personal profile (e.g., age, career, etc.), orthe user's preference setting may be used to determine the items to bedisplayed to the user in response to the user's trigger action. Thedatabase of items may also recognize an item provider for each item. Thelist of items may be displayed to the user subsequent to an event (e.g.,an interaction point in a game, completion of a scene, etc.) to avoidinterruption to the digital media experience.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment. Various embodimentsprovide a wish list that allows a user to add an item or an object tothe wish list without being redirected away from the digital media rightaway. As such, the user may make the purchase determination at a latertime. The option to purchase an item or complete a transaction may beoffered to the user. If the user desires to purchase an itemimmediately, he or she may tap on the item to navigate to a web view andcomplete the transaction. The UI 601 indicates a Princess doll isavailable for purchase. A user may open additional views of the Princessdoll using the button 602, add this item to his or her wish list byclicking on the button 603, add this item to the cart by clicking on thebutton 604, or to purchase the item and proceed to check out by clickingon the button 605. In further embodiments, a user may add an object ofinterest to a wish list. The user may be notified at a later time whennew items associated with the object are found.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary UI of an exemplary interactivemultimedia system in accordance with an embodiment. In variousembodiments, a user may add an item to his or her wish list such thatthe user may make the purchase determination at a later time. A user maydelete an item from the wish list or select an existing item in the wishlist to check out. In the illustrated example, a user may review itemsin his or her wish list by clicking on the button 702. The sidescrolling menus 706 a-b allow a user to review other items, if any, inthe wish list by using a swiping motion. In one embodiment, existingitems in the wish list that are related to an object may be displayedsimultaneously with the display of the digital media. Upon detecting anobject is present when playing the digital media, the items in theuser's wish list that are associated with the object may be displayed tothe user for review.

FIG. 8A-C illustrate an exemplary this of an interactive multimediasystem in accordance with an embodiment. In the illustrated example, thedigital media is being displayed on the primary display 801, and theinteractive multimedia UI is being displayed on the secondary display802. Trigger data may be displayed along with the digital media. A usermay click on an object (e.g., the gown 803 on the primary display 802)in the digital media to activate trigger data. In response to the user'strigger action, the user may be directed to the UI displayed on thesecondary display 802. In the illustrated example, the UI 802 displays adigital storefront hosting a list of items related to the gown 803. Thelist of items may be determined from a database according to the object(e.g., the gown 803). The list of items may be presented to the user inan order that is determined according to the user's preferences (e.g.,item providers, item categories, price ranges, colors, etc.) Forexample, items that are likely to the purchased are presented first. Inthe illustrated example, the digital media is paused in the primarydisplay 801 when the user navigates in the secondary display 802. Inanother embodiment, the digital media may be continuously displayed inthe primary display while the user navigates in the secondary display.

In some embodiments, the digital media may be displayed as thebackground in the secondary display displaying the UI. In someembodiments, a theme related to the digital media may be displayed asthe background in the secondary display displaying the UI. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 8B, a Princess theme is being displayed as thebackground 813 in the secondary screen 812 (e.g., a laptop) when a useris reviewing the item (e.g., a Princess doll) for purchase. Asillustrated in FIG. 8C, a Princess theme is being displayed as thebackground 823 in the secondary screen 822 (e.g., a laptop) when a useris reviewing a list of items in the Fairytale store.

As used herein, the term module might describe a given unit offunctionality that can be performed in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present application. As used herein, a module mightbe implemented utilizing any form of hardware, software, or acombination thereof. For example, one or more processors, controllers,ASICs, PALS, CPLDs, FPGAs, logical components, software routines orother mechanisms might be implemented to make up a module. Inimplementation, the various modules described herein might beimplemented as discrete modules or the functions and features describedcan be shared in part or in total among one or more modules. In otherwords, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this description, the various features and functionalitydescribed herein may be implemented in any given application and can beimplemented in one or more separate or shared modules in variouscombinations and permutations. Even though various features or elementsof functionality may be individually described or claimed as separatemodules, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that thesefeatures and functionality can be shared among one or more commonsoftware and hardware elements, and such description shall not requireor imply that separate hardware or software components are used toimplement such features or functionality.

Where components or modules of the application are implemented in wholeor in part using software, in one embodiment, these software elementscan be implemented to operate with a computing or processing modulecapable of carrying out the functionality described with respectthereto. One such example computing module is shown in FIG. 9 . Variousembodiments are described in terms of this example-computing module 900.After reading this description, it will become apparent to a personskilled in the relevant art how to implement the application using othercomputing modules or architectures.

Referring now to FIG. 9 , computing module 900 may represent, forexample, computing or processing capabilities found within desktop,laptop and notebook computers; hand-held computing devices (PDA's, smartphones, cell phones, palmtops, etc.); mainframes, supercomputers,workstations or servers; or any other type of special-purpose orgeneral-purpose computing devices as may be desirable or appropriate fora given application or environment, Computing module 900 might alsorepresent computing capabilities embedded within or otherwise availableto a given device. For example, a computing module might be found inother electronic devices such as, for example, digital cameras,navigation systems, cellular telephones, portable computing devices,modems, routers, WAPs, terminals and other electronic devices that mightinclude some form of processing capability.

Computing module 900 might include, for example, one or more processors,controllers, control modules, or other processing devices, such as aprocessor 904. Processor 904 might be implemented using ageneral-purpose or special-purpose processing engine such as, forexample, a microprocessor, controller, or other control logic. In theillustrated example, processor 904 is connected to a bus 902, althoughany communication medium can be used to facilitate interaction withother components of computing module 900 or to communicate externally.

Computing module 900 might also include one or more memory modules,simply referred to herein as main memory 908. For example, preferablyrandom access memory (RAM) or other dynamic memory, might be used forstoring information and instructions to be executed by processor 904.Main memory 908 might also be used for storing temporary variables orother intermediate information during execution of instructions to beexecuted by processor 904. Computing module 900 might likewise include aread only memory (“ROM”) or other static storage device coupled to bus902 for storing static information and instructions for processor 904.

The computing module 900 might also include one or more various forms ofinformation storage mechanism 910, which might include, for example, amedia drive 912 and a storage unit interface 920. The media drive 912might include a drive or other mechanism to support fixed or removablestorage media 914. For example, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive,a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a CD or DVD drive (R orRW), or other removable or fixed media drive might be provided.Accordingly, storage media 914 might include, for example, a hard disk,a floppy disk, magnetic tape, cartridge, optical disk, a CD or DVD, orother fixed or removable medium that is read by, written to or accessedby media drive 912. As these examples illustrate, the storage media 914can include a computer usable storage medium having stored thereincomputer software or data.

In alternative embodiments, information storage mechanism 910 mightinclude other similar instrumentalities for allowing computer programsor other instructions or data to be loaded into computing module 900.Such instrumentalities might include, for example, a fixed or removablestorage unit 922 and an interface 920. Examples of such storage units922 and interfaces 920 can include a program cartridge and cartridgeinterface, a removable memory (for example, a flash memory or otherremovable memory module) and memory slot, a PCMCIA slot and card, andother fixed or removable storage units 922 and interfaces 920 that allowsoftware and data to be transferred from the storage unit 922 tocomputing module 900.

Computing module 900 might also include a communications interface 924.Communications interface 924 might be used to allow software and data tobe transferred between computing module 900 and external devices.Examples of communications interface 924 might include a modem orsoftmodem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet, network interfacecard, WiMedia, IEEE 802.XX or other interface), a communications port(such as for example, a USB port, IR port, RS232 port Bluetooth®interface, or other port), or other communications interface. Softwareand data transferred via communications interface 924 might typically becarried on signals, which can be electronic, electromagnetic (whichincludes optical) or other signals capable of being exchanged by a givencommunications interface 924. These signals might be provided tocommunications interface 924 via a channel 928. This channel 928 mightcarry signals and might be implemented using a wired or wirelesscommunication medium. Some examples of a channel might include a phoneline, a cellular link, an RE link, an optical link, a network interface,a local or wide area network, and other wired or wireless communicationschannels.

In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computerusable medium” are used to generally refer to transitory ornon-transitory media such as, for example, memory 908, storage unit 920,storage media 914, and channel 928. These and other various forms ofcomputer program media or computer usable media may be involved incarrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to aprocessing device for execution. Such instructions embodied on themedium, are generally referred to as “computer program code” or a“computer program product” (which may be grouped in the form of computerprograms or other groupings). When executed, such instructions mightenable the computing module 900 to perform features or functions of thepresent application as discussed herein.

Although described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments andimplementations, it should be understood that the various features,aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individualembodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particularembodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied,alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the otherembodiments of the application, whether or not such embodiments aredescribed and. whether or not such features are presented as being apart of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of thepresent application should not be limited by any of the above-describedexemplary embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or“an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or thelike; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,”“standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construedas limiting the item described to a given time period or to an itemavailable as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, wherethis document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known toone of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass thoseapparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in thefuture.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterm “module” does not imply that the components or functionalitydescribed or claimed as part of the module are all configured in acommon package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of amodule, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in asingle package or separately maintained and can further be distributedin multiple groupings or packages or across multiple locations.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

What is claimed:
 1. A computer-implemented method of enablingpurchasable item actions associated with digital media, the methodcomprising: presenting digital media associated with a digital mediaprovider at a user device; presenting trigger data associated with thedigital media; receiving a command to activate the trigger data; inresponse to the command to activate the trigger data, causing display ofan actionable indication of at least one purchasable item associatedwith the digital media; and in response to a selection of the actionableindication of the at least one purchasable item associated with thedigital media, performing an action associated with the at least onepurchasable item, wherein the action includes adding the at least onepurchasable item to a shopping cart or a wish list.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the digital mediaprovider is a provider of a streaming service and the digital mediacomprises digital video.
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein the digital media comprises a frame of a digital media content.4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the trigger datais associated with a characteristic of the digital media.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least onepurchasable item corresponds to a characteristic of the digital media.6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user deviceis associated with a user of a service provided by the digital mediaprovider and the trigger data is associated with a user profile of theuser.
 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the triggerdata is configured to be compatible only with digital media contentprovided by the digital media provider and not compatible with digitalmedia content provided by other digital media providers. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: identifyingthe at least one purchasable item based, at least in part, on a userprofile of a user of the user device.
 9. The computer-implemented methodof claim 1, further comprising: identifying a new purchasable itemavailable for purchase; and providing a notification to the user devicethat the new purchasable item is available for purchase.
 10. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the digital media ispresented. for display in a first display area and the actionableindication of the at least one purchasable item is displayed in a seconddisplay area.
 11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, whereinthe first display area is presented for display on the user device andthe second display area is presented for display on a different device.12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the trigger dataincludes a link to access information associated with the at least onepurchasable item.
 13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein the actionable indication of the at least one purchasable itemis provided via a digital storefront or e-commerce site.
 4. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium carrying instructions that whenexecuted by a computing system, cause the computing system to performoperations to enable purchasable item actions associated with digitalmedia, the operations comprising: presenting digital media associatedwith a digital media provider at a user device; presenting trigger dataassociated with the digital media; receiving a command to activate thetrigger data; in response to the command to activate the trigger data,causing display of an actionable indication of at least one purchasableitem associated with the digital media; and in response to a selectionof the actionable indication of the at least one purchasable itemassociated with the digital media, performing an action associated withthe at least one purchasable item, wherein the action includes addingthe at least one purchasable item to a shopping cart or a wish list. 15.The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein thedigital media provider is a provider of a streaming service and thedigital media comprises at least one frame of a digital video.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the triggerdata or the at least one purchasable item is associated with acharacteristic of the digital media.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the user device isassociated with a user of a service provided by the digital mediaprovider, wherein the trigger data is associated with a user profile ofthe user, and wherein the trigger data is configured to be compatibleonly with digital media content provided by the digital media providerand not compatible with digital media content provided by other digitalmedia providers.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 14, wherein the digital media is presented for display on the userdevice and the actionable indication of the at least one purchasableitem is presented for display on a different device.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the triggerdata. includes a link to access information associated with the at leastone purchasable item.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 14, wherein the actionable indication of the at least onepurchasable item is provided via a digital storefront or e-commercesite.